Thomas f



(No Model.)

T. F. GAYNOR.

INSULATOR.

N M Q Patented Oct '7, 1890 5&2; w, g

INVENTOR wwmw UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS E. GAYNOR, OF LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, ASSIGNOR TO THE GAYNOR ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

INSULATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. {137,685, dated October 7, 1890. Application filed January 24, 1888. Serial No. 261,726. (No model.)

To all whom; it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS E. GAY NOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Louisville, in the county of J eiferson, in the State of Kentucky, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Insulators for Electric ires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in insulators for electric wires generally, and its object is to provide an insulator which shall indicate the nature or kind of wire it is designed to support.

It is well known that in large cities where many wires of different service are supported by the same poles it is diliicult to distinguish the various lines from each other, and linemen and others are liable to cross or cut wires without knowing the character of the service thus disabled. This is a serious matter in the case of fire-alarm wires, where a cut or crossed wire would leave the entire territory covered by the injured circuit unprotected in case it were necessary to turn in an alarm of fire from any alarm-box in the circuit while the circuit was thus disabled. Theimportance of maintaining the integrity of police-circuits and other special electric lines can also be well appreciated without further demonstration.

Now the object of my invention is to overcome this dilficulty, which I accomplish by giving the insulators of such lines to be disignated a peculiar distinguishing mark or feature to indicate the class to which they belong, which I do by the manner of construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a telegraphpole supporting several wires without any method of distinguishing their special purpose compared with each other and being supported by the ordinary glass insulators. It also shows a wire supported by a glass insulator provided with my improvement, by means of which and by its peculiar light-reflecting characteristics it may be distinguished from the others and from the ground, and its nature thereby understood. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of my insulator, showing its peculiar form of construction and whereby the nature of myimprovement may be more clearly understood.

Similar letters refer to similar parts in the two figures.

A represents the insulator, which is of the ordinary glass form, having the internal thread B, cylindrical cavities C and D, and external groove G, like all others of its class. Upon its surface, however, a coating E, of light-reflecting material, is glazed 01' otherwise united thereto, by which the light from the sun' or sky is reflected, thereby giving the insulator a peculiar and attractive appear ance compared with ordinary insulators. This glaze may consist of colored glass or other glazing substances adapted to glass, and may also cover a coating F of mercury or the like, by which the reflection may be more intensified. It may also extend over the entire surface of the insulator, or it may be limited to the inner cavity, as seen at F, or it may be applied in any other manner by which the desired effect may be produced. I find that a red color applied to the insulator produces a Very desirable effect for this purpose, although any suitable color or combination of colors may be made, as desired.

A telegraphdine provided with insulators having this improvement can be readily identified and distinguished from others among which it may be placed on a line of poles and no reasonable excuse given by any person who would unnecessarily cut or care lessly cross or interfere with a line thus designated.

It frequently happens that fire-alarm telegraph-wires are carelessly crossed, cut, or interfered with, and when such persons are charged with the offense their usual plea is that they did not know the character of the lines interfered with, which usually extenuates the offense, and they are let off with light fines.

Now lines equipped with my improved insulator become marked expressly for such contingencies and leave no excuse for unnecessary meddling with such wires. The great object sought for is the preservation intact of such lines.

Having thus described my invention, whatvided with a colored reflecting-surface for 10 I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patthrowing the light from the sky downward, ent of the United States, is whereby the insulator may be easily distin- 1. An insulator for electric conductors, proguished from others, substantially as speci- 5 vided with a reflecting-surface for throwing fied.

the light from the sky downward, whereby the THOMAS F. GAYN OR. insulator may be easily distinguished from Witnesses: others, substantially as specified. T. F. OBRIEN,

2. An insulator for electric conductors, pro- L. S. DAY. 

